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Zhou Z, Wang S, Fan P, Meng X, Cai X, Wang W, Ma L, Ma H, Su J. Borneol serves as an adjuvant agent to promote the cellular uptake of curcumin for enhancing its photodynamic fungicidal efficacy against Candida albicans. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 2024; 253:112875. [PMID: 38430681 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2024.112875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Candida albicans (C. albicans), a major opportunistic pathogenic fungus, is known to cause superficial skin infections. Unfortunately, the misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of drug resistance in fungi. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), a non-antibiotic alternative, has shown potential in treating drug-resistant fungal infections. Curcumin is a photodynamically active phytochemical whose photodynamic fungicidal efficacy is largely dependent on its intracellular accumulation. However, curcumin faces challenges in penetrating the cytoplasm due to its poor water solubility and the fungal cell wall. Borneol, another monoterpenoid phytochemical, is known for its ability to enhance drug absorption. In this study, we showed that borneol improved the cellular uptake of curcumin, thereby enhancing its photodynamic fungicidal efficacy against C. albicans. This effect was attributed to borneol's ability to increase cell permeability. Transcriptomic analysis further confirmed that borneol disrupted the normal structure and function of the C. albicans cell wall and membrane, resulting in dysregulated mRNA expression of related genes and ultimately increased cell permeability. As a result, the excessive accumulation of curcumin in C. albicans triggered the overproduction of intracellular ROS upon exposure to blue light. These excessive intracellular ROS disrupted various cellular structures, interfered with essential cellular processes, inhibited biofilm formation and reduced virulence. Remarkably, borneol was also found to enhance curcumin uptake by C. albicans within biofilms, further enhancing the anti-biofilm efficacy of curcumin-mediated aPDT (Cur-aPDT). In conclusion, the results of this study strongly support the potential of borneol as an adjuvant agent to Cur-aPDT in treating superficial cutaneous fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenlong Zhou
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shengli Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Transformation, School of Basic Medicine and Public Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Penghui Fan
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofeng Meng
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinyu Cai
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Wen Wang
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Lin Ma
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hang Ma
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Jianyu Su
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute, Guangzhou, China; Overseas Expertise Introduction Center for Discipline Innovation of Food Nutrition and Human Health (111 Center), Guangzhou, China.
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Zheng D, Yue D, Shen J, Li D, Song Z, Huang Y, Yong J, Li Y. Berberine inhibits Candida albicans growth by disrupting mitochondrial function through the reduction of iron absorption. J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:lxad276. [PMID: 37994672 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to investigate whether berberine (BBR) can inhibit the iron reduction mechanism of Candida albicans, lowering the iron uptake of the yeast and perhaps having antimicrobial effects. METHODS AND RESULTS We determined that BBR may cause extensive transcriptional remodeling in C. albicans and that iron permease Ftr1 played a crucial role in this process through eukaryotic transcriptome sequencing. Mechanistic research showed that BBR might selectively inhibit the iron reduction pathway to lower the uptake of exogenous iron ions, inhibiting C. albicans from growing and metabolizing. Subsequent research revealed that BBR caused significant mitochondrial dysfunction, which triggered the process of mitochondrial autophagy. Moreover, we discovered that C. albicans redox homeostasis, susceptibility to antifungal drugs, and hyphal growth are all impacted by the suppression of this mechanism by BBR. CONCLUSIONS The iron reduction mechanism in C. albicans is disrupted by BBR, which disrupts mitochondrial function and inhibits fungal growth. These findings highlight the potential promise of BBR in antifungal applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongming Zheng
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan 611137, China
| | - Daifan Yue
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan 611137, China
| | - Jinyang Shen
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan 611137, China
| | - Dongmei Li
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan 611137, China
| | - Zhen Song
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan 611137, China
| | - Yifu Huang
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan 611137, China
| | - Jiangyan Yong
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan 610075, China
| | - Yan Li
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan 611137, China
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Gupta P, Gupta H, Tripathi S, Poluri KM. Biochemical and metabolomic insights into antifungal mechanism of berberine against Candida glabrata. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:6085-6102. [PMID: 37555948 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12714-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
An unprecedented expansion of antifungal therapy failure incidences in healthcare settings of Candida glabrata is the matter of global concern that needs to be addressed efficiently and effectively. In this pursuit, the present study has investigated the antifungal mechanism of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid berberine using biochemical, metabolic, and gene expression analysis, with the aim to delineate its therapeutic activity against C. glabrata and differentially fluconazole-responsive clinical isolates. Interestingly, the clinical isolates were found to be highly susceptible to berberine. Berberine was found to control the surface properties like hydrophobicity and charge of the cells. The cell membrane composition was altered by berberine, where the ergosterol and fatty acids were affected. The efflux pump activity was inhibited, and osmotic stress was generated in C. glabrata cells upon berberine exposure. The berberine has also generated oxidative stress and activated antioxidant system in C. glabrata cells. Furthermore, these observations were supported by the transcriptional expression study of C. glabrata cell genes (CDR1, RLM1, SLT2, SUR4, KRE1) and metabolomics analysis. Based on fold change analysis, the study identified 20 differential metabolites upon berberine treatment, which belong to central carbon, amino acids, and nucleotide pathways. The checkerboard analysis revealed the potentiation of some classically used antifungal drugs by berberine, thus suggesting it as a combinatorial nutraceutical adjuvant for the eradication of fungal infections. KEY POINTS: • Berberine exhibited better potency against azole-resistant clinical isolates • Berberine modulated metabolites of different pathways • Berberine generated oxidative stress and blocked efflux pump activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payal Gupta
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT-Roorkee), Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era (Deemed To Be University), Dehradun, 248002, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Hrishikesh Gupta
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT-Roorkee), Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Shweta Tripathi
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT-Roorkee), Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Krishna Mohan Poluri
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT-Roorkee), Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India.
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India.
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Huang X, Zheng D, Yong J, Li Y. Antifungal activity and potential mechanism of berberine hydrochloride against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans. J Med Microbiol 2022; 71. [PMID: 35679157 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction. The emergence of resistance to fluconazole in Candida albicans has made the clinical treatment of this microbe difficult. A potential strategy to address this problem involves diminishing fungal resistance to antimicrobial drugs.Hypothesis. Berberine hydrochloride (BH), the primary active ingredient of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Coptis, inhibits the growth of fluconazole-resistant C. albicans through its action on the high-osmolarity glycerol mitogen-activated protein kinase (HOG-MAPK) pathway.Aim. To examine the effect of BH on the HOG-MAPK pathway to assess the potential molecular mechanism by which BH inhibits fluconazole-resistant C. albicans.Methodology. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of BH to fluconazole-resistant C. albicans was measured using the broth microdilution approach to determine the concentration of effective drug intervention. Changes in physiological functions regulated by the HOG-MAPK pathway in response to BH treatment were measured, as well as the expression of central signalling pathway genes and key downstream factors by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively.Results. BH inhibited fluconazole-resistant C. albicans and the sensitivity to fluconazole increased after BH treatment. At a concentration of 256 and 64 μg ml-1 BH may affect key downstream factors that regulate several physiological functions of C. albicans by upregulating the core genes expression of SLN1, SSK2, HOG1, and PBS2 in the HOG-MAPK pathway. Upregulation of GPD1, the key gene for glycerol synthesis, increased cell osmotic pressure. BH treatment increased the accumulation of reactive oxygen species by upregulating the expression of the key respiratory metabolism gene ATP11 and downregulating the expression of the superoxide dismutase gene SOD2. Furthermore, downregulation of mycelial-specific HWP1 hindered the morphological transformation of C. albicans and inhibition of the chitin synthase gene CHS3 and the β-(1,3) glucan synthase gene GSC1 impaired cytoderm integrity.Conclusion. BH affects multiple target genes in diminishing the resistance of C. albicans strains to fluconazole. This effect may be related to the action of BH on the HOG-MAPK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Huang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan 610041, PR China.,College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan 611137, PR China
| | - Dongming Zheng
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan 611137, PR China
| | - Jiangyan Yong
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan 610075, PR China
| | - Yan Li
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan 611137, PR China
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Ning Y, Wang X, Chen P, Liu S, Hu J, Xiao R, Li L, Lu F. Targeted inhibition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation by a graphene oxide-loaded aptamer/berberine bifunctional complex. Drug Deliv 2022; 29:1675-1683. [PMID: 35616277 PMCID: PMC9154759 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2022.2079768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilm formation is known to promote drug resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is closely related to persistent infections in hospital settings. In this study, a DNA aptamer specific to penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 82.97 ± 8.86 nM was obtained after 14 cycles of systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). Next, a bifunctional complex containing the aptamer intercalated by berberine into the double-strand region was prepared and adsorbed onto the surface of graphene oxide (GO) by π-stacking interactions. The GO-loaded aptamer/berberine bifunctional complex showed significantly higher inhibition of MRSA biofilm formation than the control. Furthermore, this study shows that the complex possesses anti-biofilm activity, which can be attributed to the ability of the aptamer to reduce cell-surface attachment by blocking the function of PBP2a and berberine to attenuate the level of the accessory gene regulator (agr) system, which plays an important role in mediating MRSA biofilm formation. Therefore, the simultaneous delivery of berberine and PBP2a-targted aptamer using GO may have potential for the treatment of chronic infections caused by MRSA biofilms. It also provides a new avenue for multitarget treatment of bacterial biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ning
- Department of Microbiology, The Medicine School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqi Wang
- Department of Microbiology, The Medicine School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Pingan Chen
- Department of Microbiology, The Medicine School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiwu Liu
- Department of Microbiology, The Medicine School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jue Hu
- Department of Microbiology, The Medicine School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Xiao
- Department of Microbiology, The Medicine School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Li
- Experimental Center of Molecular Biology, The Chinese Medicine School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangguo Lu
- Department of Microbiology, The Medicine School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
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Khameneh B, Eskin NAM, Iranshahy M, Fazly Bazzaz BS. Phytochemicals: A Promising Weapon in the Arsenal against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:1044. [PMID: 34572626 PMCID: PMC8472480 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10091044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The extensive usage of antibiotics and the rapid emergence of antimicrobial-resistant microbes (AMR) are becoming important global public health issues. Many solutions to these problems have been proposed, including developing alternative compounds with antimicrobial activities, managing existing antimicrobials, and rapidly detecting AMR pathogens. Among all of them, employing alternative compounds such as phytochemicals alone or in combination with other antibacterial agents appears to be both an effective and safe strategy for battling against these pathogens. The present review summarizes the scientific evidence on the biochemical, pharmacological, and clinical aspects of phytochemicals used to treat microbial pathogenesis. A wide range of commercial products are currently available on the market. Their well-documented clinical efficacy suggests that phytomedicines are valuable sources of new types of antimicrobial agents for future use. Innovative approaches and methodologies for identifying plant-derived products effective against AMR are also proposed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahman Khameneh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Control, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948954, Iran;
| | - N. A. Michael Eskin
- Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada;
| | - Milad Iranshahy
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948954, Iran
| | - Bibi Sedigheh Fazly Bazzaz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Control, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948954, Iran;
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948954, Iran
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Herbal Products and Their Active Constituents Used Alone and in Combination with Antifungal Drugs against Drug-Resistant Candida sp. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10060655. [PMID: 34072664 PMCID: PMC8229001 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10060655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical isolates of Candida yeast are the most common cause of opportunistic fungal infections resistant to certain antifungal drugs. Therefore, it is necessary to detect more effective antifungal agents that would be successful in overcoming such infections. Among them are some herbal products and their active constituents.The purpose of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge onherbal products and their active constituents havingantifungal activity against drug-resistant Candida sp. used alone and in combination with antifungal drugs.The possible mechanisms of their action on drug-resistant Candida sp. including (1) inhibition of budding yeast transformation into hyphae; (2) inhibition of biofilm formation; (3) inhibition of cell wall or cytoplasmic membrane biosynthesis; (4) ROS production; and (5) over-expression of membrane transporters will be also described.
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